Media releases

LONELINESS REPORT DEMANDS DEBATE

November 11, 2018

The first comprehensive Australian research on loneliness, released this weekend, represents a challenge policy-makers must respond to.

The Australian Loneliness Report, produced by the Australian Psychological Society, found that one in four Australians are lonely, and that the issue affects all genders and nearly all age groups.

Labor takes loneliness seriously: as a social policy and public health priority. Labor has been working with academics and organisations to develop a better understand of who is affected by loneliness in Australia, and how it affects them.

Andrew Giles MP has put forward a Private Member’s Motion on loneliness, that will hopefully see the issue addressed in the Parliament.

The United Kingdom has recently released a strategy on responding to loneliness. In Australia this important issue, which affects so many lives, deserves to be taken more seriously.

Labor will continue to lead the national debate on this emerging issue.